Project: The Arts, Health and Wellbeing Research Network

Arts, cultural and creative activities can encompass a range of different forms of activity undertaken individually or with others.

The Network embraces an inclusive approach regarding arts and cultural activities, and is open to people with an interest in digital media, poetry, visual arts, music, dance, and drama (live or on screen), as well as film, photography, literature, storytelling, monuments and murals, museums, archives, arts in nature, and more, as well as ‘everyday creativity’ such as knitting, crocheting, arts and crafts, doodling, and gardening.

We also have members who are using arts-based methods in their research to both collect and present their data.

Why have an Arts, Health and Wellbeing Research Network?

The central premise of the Network is that engaging with arts has a significant part to play in improving physical and mental health and wellbeing.

The arts can be considered as a route to health and wellbeing through the arts therapies, but they also have a role in public health and can be a treatment, an adjunct to other therapeutic approaches.

They can also have a role in enhancing social relationships, therefore reducing loneliness and social isolation.

The field of arts, health and wellbeing research lies in the intersection between health, social sciences, and the arts and humanities. This multidisciplinary nature is demonstrated by the composition of the network.

In addition to the research interests of individual students and staff across the University, there are external drivers in the policy and practice sectors encouraging further research into the arts, and culture health and wellbeing. These include:

• Increased interest at a government and policy level in arts health and wellbeing, with the All Party Parliamentary Group for Arts Health and Wellbeing having an instrumental role in the establishment of a National Centre for Creative Health, and the National Academy of Social Prescribing being set up to foster partnerships across arts, health, leisure and the natural environment to promote health and wellbeing.
• Arts Council England's Let's Create strategy and Creative Health and Wellbeing plan's stated aim is to promote creative health as a fundamental part of living well, for individual lives, in communities, and globally. The strategy was developed with input from a wide range of key partners across the health and care landscape, including public bodies such as the Department for Health and Social Care, NHS England, NHS Improvement, and Public Health England (now the Office of Health Improvement and Disparities), as well as national charities such as Age UK, Mind, and Scope.